Police caution public against fake social media advertisements
Only use the biggest, most reliable internet retailers in South Africa for all other purchases.
The provincial police management would like to advise unsuspecting members of the community to use caution while responding to internet adverts as crooks are always coming up with new schemes to con people.
According to Warrant Officer Dave Stanton, the warning is a result of countless online advertisement frauds on social media and other platforms.
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As an illustration of this type of social media scam, on Saturday, April 15, 2023, a victim in Potchefstroom came upon a Facebook advertisement for the sale of a Toyota Quantum. He got in touch with the seller, who claimed to be the owner. A meeting was arranged in Tswelelang informal settlement in Wolmaransstad where the prospective buyer took the vehicle for a test drive.
After agreeing, the victim and the owner travelled to get the required paperwork while reportedly offering to pick up hitchhikers. But the aforementioned hitchhikers allegedly pulled the potential customer out of the car and stole his cellphone.
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Therefore, the general population is recommended to use social media and internet ads with caution. They are encouraged to get in touch with the closest police station if they start to feel uneasy. It is advised that potential purchasers should work with reputable, licenced vehicle dealers and refrain from carrying large sums of cash or making payments in cash during transactions.
Only at a bank should the purchases be made. Unfortunately, this strategy is effective since most victims throw caution to the wind when presented with a bargain, which is how most fraudsters can entice potential purchasers. Only use the biggest, most reliable internet retailers in South Africa for all other purchases.
“There are a lot of beautifully constructed, authentic-looking shopping websites that are phoney. Finding the contact information on these websites is one precaution; bogus websites frequently lack an actual location and a landline. When you inquire if you can go to their business address and see the products for sale in person, fake operators typically come up with justifications,” concluded Stanton.
